Diocese of Kanyakumari of the Church of South India

Diocese of Kanyakumari
Location
Country India
Ecclesiastical province Church of South India
Statistics
Congregations 562
Members 6,91,762
Current leadership
Bishop Thomas Kanjirappally Oommen(i/c)
Website
www.csikkd.org

The Diocese of Kanyakumari is one of the 22 dioceses under the Church of South India. The diocese was constituted on 2 June 1959.

History

London Mission Nagercoil Seminary (LMS, 1869, p.15)[1]

Maharasan, a devout Hindu, longing to find peace took a pilgrimgae on foot to the Temple at Chidambaram. On his return, this disappointed seeker from Mylaudy – a village 4.5 miles North – West of Kanyakumari – had a vision that changed his course. On an eventful Sunday in the year 1799, Maharasan heard Rev. J.C Kohlhoff, proclaim the words of life. In a short time he received baptism at Tanjore and returned to Mylaudy and took the name Vedhamanickam . Vedhamanickam's steadfast faith and ceaseless toil won many to Christ. In need of an experienced person to guide his flock. Vedhamanickam requested Kohhoff to send them a missionary. In response to his request, a German missionary, Rev. William Tobias Ringeltaube came to Mylaudy, which was then part of the princely state of Travancore.

Over a period of ten years (1806-1816), through opposition, sickness and loneliness, Ringeltaube succeeded in building the mission on a firm foundation. The first Church was built at Mylaudy in September 1809 and converts were baptized. Schools and Churches were established in six more villages. Thus the Mylaudy Mission began to take shape

A large Church was built in Nagercoil, which later became the Home Church of the Diocese. The mission was shifted from Mylaudy to Nagercoil, which is 19 kilometers from Kanyakumari. A seminary established in Nagercoil, trained young men to become Church workers. Wives of the Missionaries trained girls in skills like lace making and embroidery. Boarding schools were started for girls and education for women gained momentum. Even non – Christian boys and girls received education. A printing press was started in 1821 and by 1838 a medical wing of the mission was established.

Travancore was caste – ridden and those who belonged to lower castes were ruthlessly denied education, choice of vocation and even dignity. Further, they were oppressed with heavy taxes. The Gospel and education offered to the lower castes helped them to break some of the fetters that had bound the men and women for centuries. Through the tireless efforts of the missionaries with the help of the British rulers, slavery was abolished.

Under the guidance of the London mission Society [LMS], 32 Churches in South Travancore became Pastorates and native Pastors were ordained in 1866. In 1874, the South Travancore Church Council was formed and when the Congregational and Presbyterian Missions united in 1908, it became part of South India United Church (SIUC). With the formation of the SIUC negotiations were made with Anglicans and the Methodists for a wider Union.

The Trvancore Church Council in 1946 endorsed the wider union. South Travancore became a Diocese of this United Church. The South Travancore Diocese bifurcated into South Kerala Diocese and Kanyakumari Diocese in June 1959. The Diocese of Kanyakumari consisted of 40 Presbyters and 277 congregations including the two congregations of the Thirunelveli Revenue District, Kannangulam and Levinchipuram at the time of formation.

Present Status

The diocese boasts of having the largest membership under its belt with a headcount of 3,91,762 people and is tagged as one of the richest diocese in India with assets, funds and savings running up to Rs. 4000 crores.

Notable Churches under the Diocese

  • C.S.I District Church Maruthancode
  • C.S.I Marthandam District Church
  • C.S.I Hacker Memorial District Church Moolachel
  • C.S.I Kodiyoor District Church
  • C.S.I Kulasekharam District Church
  • C.S.I Neyyoor District Church
  • C.S.I. Kottaram District Church
  • C.S.I. Thittuvilai District Church
  • C.S.I. CHURCH PAINKULAM
  • C.S.I. Nesamony Nagaer, Nagercoil
  • C.S.I District Church, Irenepuram
  • C.S.I District Church, Venkanji
  • C.S.I DISTRICT CHURCH, EATHAVILAI
  • C.S.I. CHRISTUCOIL DISTRICT CHURCH PALLIYADI
  • C.S.I. CHURCH, EASANTHIMANGALAM.
  • C.S.I. CHURCH, ETTAMADAI.
  • C.S.I. CHURCH, SAHAYANAGAR.
  • C.S.I. Chellamkonam CHURCH, Kappiyarai

Bishops of the Diocese

  • Rt Rev I.R.H. Gnanadason (1959 -1973)
  • Rt Rev C. Selvamony (1973-1979)
  • Rt Rev G. Christdhas (1980-1997)
  • Rt Rev M.I. Kesari (1997-2000)
  • Rt Rev G. Devakadasham(2000-2018)
  • Most Rev Thomas Kanjirappally Oommen (i/c)

See also

References

  1. ↑ London Missionary Society, ed. (1869). Fruits of Toil in the London Missionary Society. London: John Snow & Co. p. 58. Retrieved 12 September 2016.

Ministry at Palliyadi Palliyadi Christucoil Church was the fruit of the relentless efforts of Rev. James Emlyn. Palliyadi Church functioned under Parachalai Mission District when Rev. Emlyn took over the charge of Parachalay Mission on 1st May 1869. Rev. Charles Miller in association with Rev. Mead, erected five small churches namely Murungavilai, Kadu, Vallaithottam, Thittumelkonam and Mullankinavilai between 1835 and 1840. Rev. Emlyn planned to unite the five small churches located in and around Palliyadi into a big self-supporting Pastorate at a centraly located place. Therefore he reported it to the LMS headquarters at London in 1874 and 1875. Rev. Emlyn bought major portion of land surrounding the present day Christucoil Palliyadi Church, Parsonage and the School premises in 1881. A Girls school was started on 1st October 1881 with 97 girls. Eesachu catechist was appointed as the Headmaster. Rev. Emlyn appointed Mrs. Pachiamuthu, mother of Rev. T.H. Harris and the daughter of Mr. Kaalan evangelist, Miss. Esudial as assistants. LMS deputed Mr. Albert Spicer and R. Wardlaw Thompson for the spot study and to report about the progress of LMS at South Travancore, particularly Parachalai mission. Rev. Emlyn invited Mr. Albert Spicer to lay the foundation of the Palliyadi big church in 1882 with the enlightened name “Christucoil Church”. All the members of five small churches attended the function. To supervise the building work and to run the five small churches around Christucoil, Mr. S. Mathias evangelist from Martandam was appointed. With the ceaseless efforts of Rev. Emlyn and encouragement by evangelist Mathias, the church building work was completed in 1888. Rev. Emlyn presided over the opening ceremony of the church on 27th June, 1888.


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